Study Desk

The Lord , the God of heaven, brought me from my homeland to this place. That place was the home of my father and the home of my family, but he promised that this new land would belong to my family. May he send his angel before you so that you can choose a wife for my son.

If the girl refuses to come with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back to that place."

Laban then gave him food to eat, but the servant refused to eat. He said, "I will not eat until I have told you why I came." So Laban said, "Then tell us."

My master forced me to make a promise to him. He said to me, ‘You must not allow my son to marry a girl from Canaan. We live among these people, but I don't want him to marry one of the Canaanite girls.

But my master said to me, ‘I serve the Lord , and he will send his angel with you and help you. You will find a wife for my son among my people there.

But if you go to my father's country, and they refuse to give you a wife for my son, you will be free from this promise.'

But the servant said to them, "Don't make me wait. The Lord has made my trip successful. Now let me go back to my master."

The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, who loved to be out in the fields. But Jacob was a quiet man, who stayed at home.

Isaac loved Esau. He liked to eat the animals Esau killed. But Rebekah loved Jacob.

But Jacob said, "You must sell me your rights as the firstborn son."

But Jacob said, "First, promise me that you will give them to me." So Esau made an oath to him and sold his rights as the firstborn son to Jacob.

But the men who herded sheep in the Valley of Gerar argued with Isaac's servants. They said, "This water is ours." So Isaac named that well Esek. He gave it that name because it was the place where they had argued with him.

Then Isaac's servants dug another well. But there was an argument over this well too. So Isaac named that well Sitnah.

We did not hurt you; now you should promise not to hurt us. We sent you away, but we sent you away in peace. Now it is clear that the Lord has blessed you."

But Jacob told his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man. I am not hairy like him.

But Isaac said to his son, "How have you hunted and killed the animals so quickly?" Jacob answered, "Because the Lord your God allowed me to find the animals quickly."

So Jacob went to Isaac his father. Isaac felt him and said, "Your voice sounds like Jacob's voice, but your arms are hairy like the arms of Esau."

But Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your son—your first son—Esau."

But Esau continued to beg his father. "Do you have only one blessing, father? Bless me also, father!" Esau began to cry.

You will have to fight to live, and you will be a slave to your brother. But when you fight to be free, you will break away from his control."